For me a patient with a troubled heart with its 4 blocked inoperable arteries the words of Psalm 73:26 are words of hope, peace, and life. About an hour ago I began to feel some discomfort behind my breast bone anyone who has had a heart attack knows chest pains can be dangerous. And while I did not just “fluff off” the danger signals I did not panic either because for me there were signs that God was not about to let me down. So along with taking a nitro tablet, a short help me God prayer, and relaxing in my recliner the discomfort was short lived.

But Psalm 73:26 goes far beyond patients with a troubled heart, it “strikes at the heart” of everyone because we live in world destined to fail. We are a people familiar with failure. The problems begin getting out of hand when begin seeing failure as an end rather than a beginning. The most important phrase is “my portion forever.” It is important because of what it implies, its implication is we need to stop being our own portion so God can begin being our portion.

Are you ready to give God a “heart” totally vacated of self? Before you answer yes or no think about what that takes in. My day of reckoning occurred back in March of 1981 following some delicate surgery. One night after the surgery things were not going well I felt the presence of “the Grim Reaper” I remember looking at the dark ceiling and saying, “God, if I am going to live it will only be because of you.” Almost immediately I fell into a peaceful night of sleep. That night I began a life long journey of emptying myself of myself so I had room for God to become my portion. For me spiritual growth is the process of emptying self and making room for God and is ongoing.

Have you had your day of reckoning yet? We all need it. We all need to come to the point when all seems lost because it is at that point we become ready to experience God taking up residence in our life. It is at that point when the love of God kicks in at full force.

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”**